Sabre Travel Network Unveils New Tool for Airlines to Automate the Agency Group Booking Process

SOUTHLAKE, Texas, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Sabre Travel Network, the Sabre
Holdings business that connects travel suppliers and agents through the
world's leading global distribution system (GDS), today announced the launch
of Sabre Group Management Tool. This new technology automates the sale and
management of group or block airline reservations, increasing efficiencies for
both agencies and airlines and enhancing carriers' inventory control.
Continental Airlines, the first airline to use the product, recently
signed an agreement to use Group Management Tool. As a result, Continental
Airlines will reduce costs and improve earnings by increasing operating
efficiencies and enhancing inventory management.
"In order to reduce costs, we needed to eliminate manual processes and
increase the efficiency of our group desk and reservations department," said
John C. Slater, managing director of Distribution Planning for Continental
Airlines. "In addition, we wanted to improve revenues by minimizing spoiled
inventory, so we needed a system that automates the sale of group or block
space while providing inventory control. We've found that Sabre Travel
Network's Group Management Tool does both. Not only does it automate the
process, but it returns all unsold inventory to us at a predefined time based
on our uniquely defined business requirements."
The tool's inventory control feature automatically returns to the airline
a pre-defined percentage of unsold inventory by a specified reduction date and
returns all unsold/unticketed inventory on a preset expiration date.
The Group Management Tool also speeds and simplifies the group booking
process for travel agencies, who normally must manage the process through
multiple phone calls and faxes. It allows agencies to request, sell and
manage airline block or group space with minimal manual intervention.
"More than ever, airlines need technology solutions that help drive down
costs and agencies need ways to add business efficiencies, while enhancing
services to travelers," said John Stow, president of Sabre Travel Network.
"The group/block process can be both labor and cost intensive. The
introduction of the Group Management Tool helps airlines and agencies better
manage that process."
About Sabre Travel Network
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the
world's leading global distribution system (GDS) enabling agents at more than
53,000 agency locations worldwide to be travel experts. The Sabre GDS, the
first system to connect the buyers and sellers of travel, today includes more
than 400 airlines, approximately 60,000 hotels, 41 car rental companies, nine
cruise lines, 35 railroads and 220 tour operators. Key brands of Sabre Travel
Network include GetThere, the leading Web-based corporate travel reservation
technology, and Jurni Network, the unique leisure travel agency consortium
that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers
using sophisticated market intelligence.
Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE: TSG) is a world leader in travel
commerce, retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology
solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is
available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com .